Islanders Morning Skate: Rittich In Net vs. Wild, Schaefer Reflects On Rookie Lessons

With a seven-game road trip ahead, David Rittich starts for the Isles while Matthew Schaefer shares insights on his first NHL month.

EAST MEADOW, NY — With a season-long, seven-game road trip looming, the New York Islanders (6-5-1) wrap up their three-game homestand with the Minnesota Wild (5-7-3).

Puck drop from UBS Arena is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., and the game can be found on MSGSN.

The Islanders split their season series with the Wild last year, with the home team winning each contest. New York won the last matchup by a 3-1 final on Long Island, rallying three straight goals after Mats Zuccarello opened the scoring

MORNING SKATE UPDATES

With the Islanders starting a back-to-back on Friday, David Rittich (3-1-0, 3.01 GAA, .902 SV%) will start against Minnesota. Ilya Sorokin will start the back end against the New York Rangers on Saturday.

Lines:

Heineman-Horvat-Barzal
Drouin-Ritchie-Palmieri
Lee-Pageau-Holmstrom
MacLean-Cizikas-Duclair

Pelech-Pulock
Schaefer-Mayfield
Romanov-DeAngelo

Rittich
Sorokin

*Roy said that Maxim Shabanov is progressing and could travel with the team, but that’s not a guarantee that he’d play.

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ISLANDERS NOTES

• Bo Horvat had a pair of goals in the Islanders’ last outing against the Boston Bruins. He has a team-best nine goals and points in three straight games, recording three goals and an assist in that span. He also leads the team in goals against Minnesota with nine in 25 career matchups.

• Tony DeAngelo leads the Islanders in assists against the Wild with 10 in 13 games.

• Kyle Palmieri has the most total points among current Islanders vs. Minnesota, with 15 (six goals and nine assists) in 24 games.

• David Rittich dropped his last start against the Carolina Hurricanes, surrendering six goals on 34 shots. Against the Wild, however, he’s 5-0-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .935 SV% in six career matchups — most recently making 23 saves on 24 shots in a win with the Los Angeles Kings on Nov. 5, 2024.

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OPPONENT’S NOTES

Minnesota enters Friday’s contest on the second half of a back-to-back, falling 4-3 to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday in Raleigh. The teams traded goals throughout the first 40 minutes — including a pair from Matt Boldy — but a Nikolaj Ehlers goal in the final minute of the second period proved to be the difference.

The Wild didn’t make many changes this offseason, but they did add Vladimir Tarasenko and rookie defenseman Zeev Buium to their lineup.

• Tarasenko has a three-game point streak, tallying a goal and four assists for five points in that span.

• Buium has impressed early, recording three goals and six assists for nine points in 15 games.

Marcus Johansson has been one of Minnesota’s most consistent offensive performers to start the season. The two-time member of the Wild has points in seven straight games (five goals, four assists).

The headlining move of the offseason came when Minnesota signed Kirill Kaprizov to a record-breaking eight-year, $136 million extension. The superstar has lived up to expectations with eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 15 games.

Among active Wild skaters:

• Tarasenko has the most career goals vs. the Islanders (11 in 23 games).

• Johansson leads in assists (21) and points (24) across 42 games.

After Filip Gustavsson started Thursday’s game, Jesper Wallstedt (1-0-2, 3.45 GAA, .863 SV%) will get the nod Friday. The rookie last started against the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 26, allowing six goals on 25 shots in an overtime loss. This will be his first career start against the Islanders.

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Q & A With Matthew Schaefer

Rosner: You’re a month into your rookie season now. What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned, and what more do you want to show?

Schaefer: “I think just D-zone — there’s always stuff to improve on. O-zone too. Ending plays quicker at the blue line is a big thing. But overall, I’m just working on being an all-around player and being unstoppable.”

Rosner: There was that play against Carolina when Svechnikov beat your wide for a goal. Last game, someone tried to beat you wide, and you cut it off right away. How quickly are you learning to read those situations?

Schaefer: “Yeah, I mean, you just learn. Obviously, there are mistakes you make in games, and those are great learning curves. You watch them back, see what you could’ve done better. Every day I’m trying to learn more and better my game.”

Rosner: What’s it been like having Ritchie up here?

Schaefer: “Yeah, he’s awesome. He’s a great player on and off the ice. I’ve become super close with him. He’s great, and if he keeps doing his thing, he’s gonna do just fine.”

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